Israel Funds Construction of Reform Synagogue For First Time

The Jerusalem Post reports on yesterday's scheduled ground breaking for the first Reform synagogue funded by the Israeli government. Until now, only Orthodox synagogues could receive state funds. The Conservative and Reform Jewish movements are not officially recognized by Israel's rabbinate. In the past some municipalities had set aside land for non-Orthodox synagogues, but this is the first funding for construction. Money for the prefab that will house Modi'in's Yozma Reform Congregation came as the result of a compromise after a lawsuit was filed against Modi'in's Construction and Housing Ministry by the Israel Religious Action Center. It claimed that the Ministry's planned allocation of state funds for religious institutions was discriminatory. In the settlement, IRAC agreed to drop the lawsuit and construction and housing minister Isaac Herzog agreed to furnish the new building. IRAC says it doubts whether funds for additional Reform synagogues will be forthcoming because recently the Religious Affairs Ministry was reinstituted and its head is a member of the Orthodox Shas party. [Thanks to Religion and State In Israel for the lead.]